Effects of modified Pilates on variability of inter-joint coordination during walking in the elderly

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 3463 - 3467
• Main Authors: Roh, SuYeon, Yoon, Sukhoon, Kim, Joo Nyeon, Lim, Hee Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japan The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2016
• Subjects: Elderly gait; Inter-joint coordinate variability; Original; Pilates exercise; Pilates exercise; Inter-joint coordinate variability; Elderly gait
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.28.3463

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effects of an 8-week modified Pilates program on the variability of inter-joint coordination in the elderly during walking. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty elderly participants with no recent history of orthopedic abnormalities (age, 67.9 ± 2.7 years; height, 163.7 ± 8.9 cm; weight, 67.1 ± 11.6 kg) were recruited for this study and randomly allocated to a modified Pilates exercise group or a control group. Three-dimensional motion analysis was performed on both groups to evaluate the effects of the Pilates exercise. [Results] There was no significant difference in the joint variability of the ankle, knee, and hip joints between the groups, both before training and after training. However, there was a significant increase in the hip-knee deviation phase value in the exercise group after the program was completed, and this increase was also significant when compared with that in the control group. [Conclusion] This study has demonstrated that an 8-week modified Pilates exercise program can have a positive impact on the gait of elderly participants, potentially by enhancing neuromuscular adjustment, which may have positive implications for reducing their fall risk.